Nickelodeon’s ‘Sam & Cat’ To End Run After One Season

After being put on a “permanent hiatus” in April following some behind-the-scene drama, Nickelodeon hit comedy seriesSam & Cat has been being officially cancelled, with promos for the last produced episode, No. 36, #Getting Wiggy, calling it a series finale. “Nickelodeon will not be producing more episodes of Sam & Cat,” the network said in a statement. “We are very proud of the show and its very talented cast and we wish them all the best.”

Sam & Cat had been a runaway success by any measure. The series, from proven hitmaker Dan Schneider, brought together two popular characters from two popular Nick series – iCarly’s Sam Puckett and Victorious‘ Cat Valentine — played by two of the network’s best-known stars and best friends, Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, respectively. The series has been a ratings hit, quickly becoming Nickelodeon’s highest-rated series. Last July, only a month into Sam & Cat’s run, Nick doubled its freshman order from 20 to 40 episodes. Its hourlong Jan. 18 episode drew 4.8 million total viewers.

But as production went on for Sam & Cat‘s 40-episode first season, rumors started circulating about discord on the set, with emotions running high and McCurdy and Grande sometimes showing up late. The grueling, 40-episode shoot had been taxing on everyone. Additionally, McCurdy had been going through a difficult time in her personal life for the past six months and recently had to deal with the leak of racy photos, while Grande’s music career has taken off big time. Both have been at Nickelodeon for a long time, McCurdy for more than seven years and Grande for more than four. Both are entering adulthood, and word is both were feeling constrained at kids-focused Nickelodeon and are ready to move on.

Things came to a head in late March when McCurdy publicly accused Nickelodeon of unfair treatment. She also fueled speculation about a rift with her longtime best friend Grande by un-following Grande on social media and not joining her co-star at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards. A few days later, production on the series was shut down with four episodes from Season 1 left to shoot. They will not be filmed, and there will not be a second season either. Meanwhile, Nick is in production on the new comedy series from Schneider, the 20-episode Henry Danger.

Well on the bright side, 35 episodes for one season is more than what some shows have for their entire run. Let this be a lesson to networks who try to push the limits of tv episode shooting. It will just blow up in their faces, and result in the loss of a valuable moneymaking property.

lululime • on Jul 13, 2014 11:36 am

I’m not familiar with how Nickelodeon or Disney work, but it seems crazy to cancel your highest rated series after one season. I mean, Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City rolled on after alleged behind-the-scenes rivalries. And why would these actresses agree to do the show if they want to transition to an older audience?

Los Bostonian • on Jul 13, 2014 11:50 am

They aren’t really canceling the show so much as the actresses are canceling the show. Nick isn’t happy about this decision at all.

lululime • on Jul 13, 2014 10:35 pm

I just assumed there was some iron clad contract they must’ve had when signing on to do the show that prohibited them from leaving. Don’t all shows do that?

melanie • on Jul 14, 2014 10:13 am

Of course there is a contract, but what is Nick gonna do? Sue a couple of kids and force them to work? I’m sure that would go over really well.

Ariana #1 FAN • on Jul 13, 2014 11:51 am

So sad will miss you Ariana you are an inspiration to me when I heard your voice I absolutely fell in love with your songs and you are so cool :-)
1. Ariana
2. Zendaya and fifth harmony (they are sharing this because I cannot decide).
3. Katy P and Selena Gomez ( cannot choose again sorry :-) )
4.

But you are amaze I love you so much for being an inspiration to a load of people around here and I love you and Zendaya and fifth harmony and god ye are so cool

:-) :-) @smiles

Herb Finn • on Jul 13, 2014 12:03 pm

Seems Disney has better control over production and talent then Nick does.

Anonymous • on Jul 13, 2014 12:45 pm

How.rude of nickoldion ti do this its unfair to all people and kids.

John • on Jul 13, 2014 1:11 pm

NICK RUINS EVERYTHING! Nick is going to be history if they keep canceling good shows like this, Nick has no good show left, Sam & Cat should’ve just been on Disney, actually Schneider should just move over to disney to make or finish Sam & Cat, Nick can’t do anything right, they lost their only good show, Nick, just get out, you’re a train wreck

When McCurdy is working at McDonald’s, she might, just might, regret making a fool of herself (in many ways) which is solely the reason the show got canned. Grande, on the other hand, has a huge career ahead of her and is probably glad to have “one less problem” to deal with, now that McCurdy is out of her life.

Mantra720 • on Jul 13, 2014 4:08 pm

When the network just doesn’t care that your own mother died and is pushing you to film 20 more episodes without re-negotiating your contract or giving you a break to grieve? Nickelodeon had a cash cow going and absolutely bungled it by treating McCurdy horribly, and it’s no wonder she just said enough and decided to move on, especially after hearing they foisted the ridiculous plan to turn her into a country singer on her.

Somehow I the network letting Dan Schneider go wild with the show and making few notes to keep Cat’s character sane in the writing of the last ten episodes have had also made Ariana Grande think that it probably best for her music career to end the show herself. She probably doesn’t want to live with being treated like a barely-functioning person like her character is.

I think she /is/ a charismatic young actress, but I have not seen her do anything besides this one character. I think she handled transitioning out of children’s programming in a VERY immature way though. (IE. Blaming her appearance on Pete Holmes’ podcast for encouraging her ex-boyfriend to leak her nudes that she actually leaked herself…) I’m sure we will see more of her in the future, but her departure was unprofessional.

MX • on Jul 14, 2014 2:13 pm

Grande has an annoying voice, and McCurdy is much better looking. Why would you assume Grande is the one with a huge career ahead of her? Seems more likely that Grande will have a career arc like that of 1980s “teen queen” singer Tiffany.

Anonymous • on Jul 22, 2014 5:57 pm

Stop there Ariana looks way better but they are both pretty

That Guy • on Jul 25, 2014 10:48 am

Ariana is the new Mandy Moore or Ashley Simpson. Take your pick as they are both useless now and that is where Ariana is headed.

Sure, there were issues going on behind the scenes between Jennette McCurdy and the producers, but this show wasn’t nearly as good creatively as iCarly or Victorious, even if it was getting good ratings. The idea of having two creative people, one with a popular web show and the other in a performing arts high school, resorting to running a babysitting service, was farfetched to begin with, and midway through the season they began recycling plotlines from past ICarly and Victorious episodes. Plus with Ariana Grande’s music career blowing up, it was only a matter of time before they pulled the plug on the show.

james_from_cambridge • on Jul 13, 2014 3:54 pm

This have anything to do with that producer Dan Schneider and all the insane rumors about him and the, uh, “people” on his shows? C’mon insiders…I’m sure you know!

Garvin • on Jul 14, 2014 8:25 am

ive worked with dan before and I thought the exact same thing. He’s made a ton of money for the network, so Nick allows his questionable behavior to slide… meanwhile he’s around young children.

Mr. Right • on Jul 13, 2014 4:31 pm

Oh no. Whatever will happen now? Guess I’ll just buy a lot of ammo and wait for the end……. Good grief….

Jack • on Jul 14, 2014 6:39 am

I dont get it…why do you need ammo to wait for the end?

May • on Jul 15, 2014 5:07 am

Yeah I don’t get it…makes so sense. At all.

Anonymous • on Jul 13, 2014 8:13 pm

LOL, Nickelodeon is a mess right now. I’m too old to be in Nickelodeon’s demographic now (I’m 21 now) but I can tell that the network is not in the same direction it was fifteen-twenty years ago and that is sad. None of the shows are watchable, not even the 11 year olds I babysit for like them. Yet they like (suprise, suprise) “Kenan & Kel”, “Alex Mack”, and the other programs Nick used to air during they’re golden age from the 90’s. Even Disney channel is putting good stuff on now with “Girl Meets World”, which I enjoyed. I never watched “Sam & Cat” but I can tell that Nick looks to be in bad shape now.

chris • on Jul 13, 2014 8:34 pm

I think it’s for the best. Ariana Grande (the only one I care about tbh) is a woman now. This show is/was too childish for her. It would be a big hindrance to her music career eventually. She doesn’t wanna end up like Raven Symone, near 30 and being typecast for the same child like roles. Much like Raven, hollywood will turn on her eventually and she wont be able to find work because she has been typecast as an adolescent when she’s a grown woman.

GOOD RIDDANCE! • on Jul 14, 2014 1:40 am

GOOD RIDDANCE!

SC Vandy • on Jul 14, 2014 8:04 am

I’m hoping one of the now idle crew or staff can respond to the aspect of the “grueling, 40-episode shoot” excuse for the turmoil. With that goal in mind, shooting 3 or 4 days (or even 5) per episode for a Nickelodeon half hour would then approximate the 8 to 10 days that one-hour broadcast dramas spend filming their 22-episode seasons. (I’m waiting for someone, with a longer view, to comment / contrast that in TV’s infancy a standard season was 39 originals.) When Nickelodeon saw the early numbers on “Sam & Cat” and eagerly ordered the extra 20 half hours they might have realized that their two young leads, Jeannette and Ariana, were at that fast-growing age that there’d be a noticeable difference between year two and one. Another possibility is that Nick could potentially offer everyone a longer hiatus with 40 segs “in the can” instead of the standard 20. However, it seems only fair that Nick should have given everyone a bump in pay for the second set of 20 shows, which would have normally been a second season when the increases are customarily due. Whatever, a sad turn of events. In April the “Hot in Cleveland” ladies seemed thrilled with their “supersized season” bump to 24. By now I hope the bulk of the staff and crew have landed new — and less stressful — places to work. They’ll always have this unique experience to discuss with their new colleagues, brothers and sisters.

May • on Jul 15, 2014 5:02 am

I do agree. But I think another reason why it’s cancelled is because of Ariana’s career taking off. `I mean, look, Problem’s a big hit. I’m sure that they don’t want to cancel it, but I mean, they had to. Sure, it was cute last year, but our little Boca girl’s not little anymore. She’s 21.

Considering how Grande’s music career is taking off, I’m surprised most of the blame/cause is being put on McCurdy. I have to think Grande’s people are the major push to kill the show so she can take advantage of her time in the spotlight.

Brittany Petros • on Jul 14, 2014 10:13 am

I don’t like her look it as if seems better than everyone else.

Venus • on Jul 14, 2014 10:23 am

Nick is a mess. Who are the execs there? I know Jon Roadler is on his way out and Brooke is eyeing the top spot but the problems do not come from the bottom. Who ever is heading the network is destroying the network. They really need to get rid of some of those out of touch execs and add some people that have taste in writers and material.

Denise • on Jul 14, 2014 4:34 pm

This show was horrible. Haunted Hathaways and The Thundermans are much better shows.

Sam and cat Rox • on Jul 14, 2014 8:08 pm

I love Sam and cat sooooo much and I really hope they could start a new season in a couple of months so jennette an ari could have enough time to take a break and then they could just start the show back up. I don’t know what I am going to do without anymore Sam and cat! I am so sad!

Anonymous • on Jul 22, 2014 1:25 pm

U are messed up dude so shut up

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2014 3:48 pm

You shut up, people deserve to have ther own opinions, if “Sam and cat rox” decides to be sad about the show’s ending, that has nothing to do with you. I don’t know what happened to the world; when I was a kid everyone was friendly and we shared our toys and apologized to each other when people were sad. That was how we all were raised, correct? So why did people have to change and be like this to each other? There are people who love(d) this show. I don’t understand why you have to come in and make it worse for them.

So, Nickelodeon has finally said that the show is officially cancelled. After all the bad rumours going on, there’s not surprise on this. It was only a matter of time. It looks that things got really ugly off-screen, which is very sad. It’s also important to remember that the 40 episodes order was a huge mistake. It calls: push the limits of tv episode shooting. So, in the end, the network has a very large parcel of guilt on this whole mess.

Kuku • on Jul 22, 2014 6:55 pm

Which is why I think the biggest for a live-ation show for Disney has been about 28 or 30. If this was a cartoon, I can see 40 (Phineas and Ferb in S2 had 39 eps, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates for S2 also had 39).

May • on Jul 15, 2014 4:55 am

I can’t believe that Sam & Cat’s ending! According to M Magazine, the show was supposed to not be over but have a break! I’m not really watching Nickelodeon right now. I am currently watching TeenNick because I don’t know why and because honestly, I think that they’re more in order because all their other shows got cancelled like Dance Academy, Alien Surf Girls, Life With Boys, etc., I think, and the only drama show they have is Degrassi. I also heard that Every Witch Way was originally going to be on TeenNick but landed on Nickelodeon instead.

Yours Fearlessly With Love,
May

Anonymous • on Jul 16, 2014 10:35 am

What ever happened to good comedy, shows from the 90’s like almost all of All That. Though I watched the show in the early 2000’s I was only 2 when the show ended, so even though my siblings got to enjoy the excitement of watching a new episode of their favorite show, my friends and I didn’t. I’m glad this show is ending because it was terrible spin-off of 2 good shows. Nickelodeon seems like it’s gone down hill since the 90’s for me, and a lot of other people too.